London Metropolitican University is challenging evidence gathered by the UK
Border Agency after thousands of its students were "left in limbo"
due to a visa scandal.

London Metropolitan University has vowed to "defend its reputation" after launching legal action against a decision to revoke its licence to sponsor international students.

The institution last night announced it is challenging evidence gathered by the UK Border Agency (UKBA) so thousands of students left in limbo can return to study "as a matter of urgency".

The Government revoked London Met's highly-trusted status (HTS) for sponsoring international students last week after it found more than a quarter of a sample of students studying at the university did not even have permission to stay in the country.

Immigration minister Damian Green said a "significant proportion" did not have good English and there was no proof that half of those sampled were turning up to lectures.

The university said it would be contesting the decision after reading the UKBA's report in full.

London Met said in a statement: "Working with its advisers, the university has conducted a thorough review of UKBA's 'evidence', and in the strongest possible terms challenges the outcome.

"London Met appreciates that as the first UK University to be placed in this position it has a duty to the sector to try and bring an end to the damage arising from UKBA's decision."

The institution said that there was "no evidence of systemic failings" at the university, and that the evidence it had given to UKBA shows it was taking every reasonable measure to be compliant with their rules.

It also said it had been conducting checks on its international students, specifically in relation to English language and their educational ability and to check that they are legally entitled to do study at the institution.

The university accused UKBA officers of "ignoring information that was made available to them when they conducted their audit".

Up to 2,600 foreign students have been affected by the decision and have until December 1 to either find an alternative course or arrange to leave the UK.

London Met said the move to revoke its HTS could also result in up to a £30 million annual loss to the institution.

Its vice-chancellor Professor Malcolm Gillies, said: "London Met will fight this revocation, which is based on a highly flawed report by the UKBA.

"The University will continue to give top priority to the interests of our international students who have been so distressed by this precipitate action."

The institution accused the UKBA of changing its requirements too frequently in recent years and said the UK's immigration policy was creating confusion across universities and "irrevocable damage" to Britain's education sector.

It added in its statement: "UKBA's requirements have changed substantially at least 14 times in the last three years.

"We believe the university's approach to complying with this multitude of changes is of a standard that not only equates with practices adopted by the majority of other universities in the sector but in a number of key areas exceeds sector-wide practice."

It continued: "The UK has a long-standing reputation of educational excellence and for attracting genuine students from a diverse international market.

"It is not in anyone's interests for there to be a system in place which constantly changes and which forces universities, their management and their staff automatically to treat students with suspicion until proven otherwise."

Keith Vaz, the Labour chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said he was not surprised by London Met's move.

"The process has left a large number of genuine students with nowhere to study. This cannot be right or fair to them."

UKBA said the decision to revoke the university's licence was the correct course of action and that it will "strongly" contesting any legal challenge.

Further details of the legal action are expected to be announced by London Met later this week.

UKBA figures showed that of 101 sample cases, 26 students were studying at London Met between December last year and May despite the fact they held no leave to remain in the UK.

A lack of required monitoring meant there was no proof students were turning up to lectures in 142 of 250 (57%) sampled records.

And 20 of 50 files checked since May for evidence of mandatory English language testing and academic qualifications showed poor assessment where documents were either not verified or not held.

Universities minister David Willetts said a task force - led by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE) and Universities UK - would be formed to help overseas students affected by the decision.

Critics said the move sent a damaging message that the UK deports foreign students to all corners of the globe, with Universities UK, the National Union of Students and the University and College Union among those who criticised the decision.